Description
A beautiful, large example of the highly sought after Olenellus chiefensis from the Lower Cambrian rocks of the American west. The species is known for its unusual elongated and tapering cephalon. Show stopping specimens of this species are difficult to obtain. This 4.2 cm specimen is nearly perfect, situated on dark matrix with metallic hues of purple and orange in reflective light. The trilobite itself shows growth distortion and or healing on the left thorax where the 7th thoracic segment is shortened and interference with the morphology of the surrounding segments, including the macro pleural spine are evident. Epic specimen with a story to tell.
*A side note-Olenellus trilobites of this quality are extremely rare. The specimens offered here were collected from the 1980’s through the early 2000’s and represent the top 1%.
Age: Lower Cambrian
Species Name: Olenellus chiefensis
Order / Family: Redlichiida / Olenellidae
Locality: Lincoln County, Nevada
Formation: Pioche Shale
